Birmingham man, a fugitive for four years, gets 30 years in prison for drug distribution

Man who had evaded capture on drug distribution charges for four years was sentenced March 14, 2013 to 30 years in federal prison.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - A Birmingham man who had evaded capture for four years on drug distribution charges was sentenced by a federal judge today to 30 years in prison, federal authorities announced.

Lamar Gibson, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler at a hearing in Birmingham today.

Gibson was convicted in October on one count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, one count of distributing crack cocaine and one count of attempting to distribute the drug, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge Clay A. Morris.

Gibson had fled after he was indicted in August 2008 and evaded capture until August 2012, according to the statement.

Gibson's co-defendant in the case, Shawn Greer, 44, of Birmingham, pleaded guilty to the charges in November 2008. Greer was sentenced after Gibson's trial to 15 years in prison.

Both men were convicted of conspiracy and distribution in connection to their sale of about 70 grams of crack cocaine for $1,750 on Feb. 22, 2008, according to the statement. They were convicted of attempting to distribute another 2 ½ ounces of crack cocaine on May 22, 2008.